Derry man denies ‘people smuggling’ charge

Stephen McLaughlin, 34, from Limavady, arrives at Basildon Crown Court in Essex, where he and three other men denied their involvement in a people-smuggling operation which resulted in the death of an Afghan immigrant. Photo: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

Published:15:22Updated:16:25Monday 08 June 2015

A Derry man is among four defendants who have denied their involvement in a ‘people-smuggling’ operation which resulted in the death of an Afghan immigrant.

Meet Singh Kapoor, 40, was found dead in a shipping container at Tilbury Docks in Essex. He was among a group of 35 immigrants, including 13 children, found in the container on August 16. The rest survived the ordeal.

Martin McGlinchey, 47, of Coalisland, in County Tyrone, outside Basildon Crown Court in Essex, where he and three other men denied their involvement in a people-smuggling operation which resulted in the death of an Afghan immigrant.Photo: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

Stephen McLaughlin, 34, of Limavady and originally from Carndonagh; Timothy Murphy, 33, of Elmgrove, Derry; Martin McGlinchey, 47, of Derryloughan Road, Coalisland, County Tyrone; and Taha Sharif, 38, of Wandsworth Prison, all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK.

Their trial is due to get underway at Basildon Crown Court in Essex on Tuesday and is expected to last until mid-July.

The group of migrants, whose ages ranged from one to 72, are believed to have fled Afghanistan after suffering persecution.